We have more than 300 people registered for this Virtual Meeting and we will try to get through as many questions as we can in the second half of this discussion. I want to note the entirety of todays session is on the record. Our discussion now and later on, the questions and answers. Mr. President , welcome. It is a pleasure to see you again. A great leisure to be with you. My prayers and wishes to the veterans particularly and to all the civilians that served with you. It is a great honor to be with you. Let me say how much i and many other people in this country value our partnership with you and the Afghan People over the past years. Your country now is at a prehistoric threshold or at least potentially so. You and the Afghan People through the loya jirga have made the decision to release the final prisoners the taliban had been demanding and opening the pathway to negotiations which reportedly would start and the next couple of days. That is an extremely important threshold to cross, one that i know you addressed with great seriousness and conviction but also with difficulty, given the sacrifices your people have made in this conflict. I know very well you are a man who likes strategy and planning. How do you see this process now unfolding from this point, assuming the door is open to negotiations . I think a great tribute to the collective wisdom that the Loya Jirga Grand Council resolved what could not be resolved. An additional 500 people on our own, serious constitutional and legal issues. The moral basis the loya jirga provided a consensus of 2400 men and women, over 700 of them women, has given us and opportunity to break the last deadlock and we hope during this process would be able to resolve the conflict. The key goal for the Afghan People is to bring an end to violence which has haunted us for 40 years and we are prepared that our team is a National Team representing a National Perspective and in addition the loya jirga has provided a framework and key parameters that would enable us to talk. James how do you see that discussion beginning and developing . As you just said, it is a very high priority to establish the ceasefire. How do you see that coming to be and how do you see the negotiations themselves proceeding . Ghani well, this is not a two way discussion, it has been a three way discussion because the United States has been engaged and the agreement between the United States on the 29th of february provided a framework while simultaneously we have [indiscernible] some of the issues pertain to the United States. That is significant set of questions that i am sure you will be asking later. There is a second set of questions that relate to the willingness, capability and desire of taliban troops to embrace this solution. During the negotiations, we are going to find out. Up to now, they held their views to themselves. The main issue since february 29 has been continuation of [indiscernible] military and civilian fatalities and casualties. The violence has been very high. To get a comprehensive ceasefire as soon as possible and to be able to talk about a political framework which would bring the parts of the taliban society in. James so far, its all about a the taliban have taken pretty firm, hardline view as they in the little bit they have said publicly about negotiations. Do you expect when the actual negotiators and you have some great people on your side, i know, i know many of them, do you think once the afghan side, the taliban side get together in a room, they will be able to have a serious, productive discussion about these many sensitive issues you are going to have to work through . Ghani we have immense skills and conflict resolution in conflict resolution. We have had the skills for 3 million years. The test is going to be once we encounter each other. What we have nationally is a very strong consensus and it has capital thatitical has been generated by the will of the people. The loya jirga decided the central question in two days. That shows that Afghan Society can assemble and express itself. Second is that we are in agreement with the International Community, particularly with the United States on the end state of the talks. A sovereign, united, democratic that would be at peace with itself in the world. Until now, there has been a lot of pressure from the Afghan Government and now the balance shifts because we have taken all the risk because we are a state. We were not party to an agreement to release 5000 taliban, but out of wanting peace and the conviction. We did it. Now, we hope all of the actors will come together in the region again and we build this consensus. It will show whether the desire for a stable afghanistan that would be in everybodys interest prevails over a more short term ideas and views and whether the taliban would now show themselves capable of politics, an imaginative, constructive politics or not. The question is open. James yes, it is a very important question, i agree. It is one of the key factors that needs to be examined is this process goes forward for everybody, for the United States as well as your country and the region. Lets turn to the region a minute because you mentioned the need for constructive Regional Support and engagement in this process as well. We collectively, the International Community and in afghanistan have been talking about the need to train a constructive framework for afghanistan in many different facets, economic, security, and finally this search for peace. I know your government has been consulting closely with your regional partners and others for the last couple of months. If you think there is now the groundwork laid to finally bring some of this hope for Regional Cooperation into something that is actually constructive now as you are looking toward the future . Pres. Ghani i very much hope so. I think there have been some fundamental changes. For instance, afghanistan, when i became president had a cold relationship with central asia. Today, we have become an organic part of central asia. Our trade, cooperation and very close coordination finds that it is reversed since the iron curtain. Corridor after corridor is opening. The relationships are strictly constructive and theres an enormous potential economic dividend for all of us. With iran, we have a bilateral relationship, but sanctions have been an important part of it. So we are complying with sanctions. But all of the issues are on the table. It is a dialogue that is proceeding constructively. The rest needs to be seen. China, india, turkey, the united arab emirates, saudi arabia are the larger players and of course, the billiondollar. Uestion is regarding pakistan with a constructive discussion the army chief of staff came. The key issue is how the region concedes others interests. We argue that a stable afghanistan, we have coined a new term. A multialigned afghanistan, we have friends, we have the greatest number of friends and dont get involved in the disputes among our friends and neighbors and do not allow our territory to be used against any of them, can be an anchor for stability. This possibility has been acknowledged equally and afghanistan is trenched into a civil war or conflict could do substantial harm to its neighbors. Need ise what we what we need. The heart of strategy and bring the balance. It is not the easiest balance, but it is a Necessary Balance to move us forward. James i agree on the need to find that balance and we have been arguing, we americans have been arguing with your regional neighbors for some time on that very point, that a stable afghanistan is of great benefit to the region rather than one where afghanistan continues to be in conflict. I take it from your remarks that you think that argument is gaining traction now as time has evolved. Keying on to that point will be very important as you get through these negotiations about the future because of the temptation of outside parties to try to disrupt if they wish. Do you think that realization is something really that you can build on as you continue your own diplomacy in the region . Pres. Ghani our diplomacy has been constructive and effective. Thewe are not, you know future role of the United States and the region is in the a conditiongain, but not determining factor that affects our relationship with others. On the Positive Side, there is an immense interest in regional connectivity and the Financial Corporation has been very engaged in this process. Financial Development Corporation has been very engaged in this process. There are huge projects. Thethe first time, afghanistanpakistanindian pipeline is going to be constructed. The private corridors are moving forward and there is pakistan,on now with their corridor with india. We are connected with 50 countries by air. This is one part of the equation where asia is being changed from geography, to a economic continent. On the other side, notion of lack of consensus on a system, state responsibility and interference. We are, as you said, at that critical moment. We are doing our best and the other issue that is one of potential risk is the question terrorism. We are very close and that is why pay tribute to the american heroes that have died for your security and freedom. We are dealing with a phenomenon that has not found a solution. What is the utility of force . What is the limit of force . How do you create a politics that can truly eliminate the danger of terrorism . This is not the first wave, this is the fifth wave and 150 years. Those questions are interrelated. On the Positive Side of the balance, theres an immense opportunity for cooperation. On the negative, the threats could bring us together or may take time to converge again. James i think many people dont understand the need Many Americans dont understand how important a role afghanistan has played in a partnership with the United States and International Community in combating terrorism. That is something we need to be very mindful of going forward. The politics and negotiations, however they proceed, theres going to be a terrorism issue to deal with and hopefully we can all find a way to cooperate on that. Before we move onto another area, i want to ask a little more about pakistan given the crucial role pakistan plays in the conflict and in the region. I know you had a long meeting with one of the generals not long ago and pakistani rhetoric and some actions have been positive in terms of moving prospects for negotiations forward. I know how you hope pakistans will evolve, but do you think it is possible to build a Stronger Political relationship with pakistan so they can play the kind of role we hope they would be playing as negotiations start and proceed . Pres. Ghani [indiscernible] of course, indias rise and continued prosperity is something that is extremely important for all of us, the rest of the region, the major players. But ask yourselves some main questions regarding this. Number one, will a talibanrun government serve anything . Second, under what type of government can afghanistan enable the return of refugees . Three, what type of government would be able to undertake the large projects of connectivity on the negative side if even out of central afghanistan, what would be the cost . What country would be most effected internally given its priorities . And i focus on poverty education as our central challenge. How would we be able to create a framework that can deal with this given corona, given the economic downturn and others . Pakistan was an inherent part of a larger economic region in central asia and west asia. Can you employ that type of dynamism . Lastly, a stable afghanistan hopefully will open the way for resolution of fundamental issues with india that would enable all of us in the region to benefit from what is clearly around, but because of distance and perception, we are unable to utilize and put to the service of our people . James thank you. Lets go back and take another look at the future. I would be interested in your views about where you realistically hope to see afghanistan arrive at as a result of these negotiations we all hope are about to begin. Obviously, a cease fire is a top ready because theres been too much violence and too much needless killing, especially now that we have an agreement you are going to begin what would be a search for peace. What do you think a realistic expectation is for the outcome of that discussion . Afghanistan has its own record of achievement and you have your personal record of achievement over the past decades, a constitutional system, elections, protection of media, progress on womens issues, things most Afghan People welcome. How do you see reconciling that afghanistan with the views the taliban might hold about the future of the country . How does that happen . You say afghans have a long history of mediation, how do you reconcile those views that is quite different of afghanistan 20 years ago . Pres. Ghani by taking each other and discovering each other, that is fundamental. We have not stuck together. We have faced each other in the battle. Except for the cease fire of 2018, that truly was a massive was ecause that one i initiated it and the taliban responded. It was a national celebration. During that incident, not a single taliban was insulted, shot, humiliated, or attacked. It showed me that when society has an immense tolerance, attacked byy are society, acknowledging that fact is fundamental to moving toward peace. Now the question is will the taliban acknowledge that afghanistan that has been created in the last two decades and particularly during the last six years, will they look at the jirga and see their free will of the people. Know, the loya jirga you know cannot be censored or controlled. It is close to your town Hall Meetings in terms of its range of expression and freedoms. During these discussions, Afghan Society will need to decide if a solution that is going to enable us a Common Future is possible or not. We have shown every desire, including the last difficult vote to say that we want peace, the taliban cannot look for dominance. It has to embrace it. If they look for dominance, society will not accept dominance. It has to embrace it. Unlike their relations with the United States, where they said y had the time [indiscernible] this time has to either be used productively, which all of us are praying for, or it can be turned into destruction. Theden of history initiative. How they talk, how they deal, how they frame the issues, do they search for Common Ground . Your envoy may have had a deadline, but society does not have a deadline and that changes the nature of negotiation. James well said and i want to congratulate you and your compatriots for getting to this very important point. I know it has been a very difficult journey. At this point, i think we want to ask our members to join the conversation with their questions. I want to remind everybody again that this meeting is on the record and operators will remind our members how to join the question cue. Ladies and gentlemen, to ask the question, click on the raise hand icon. When you are called on, proceed with your name, affiliation and question. Please click on the link in your zoom checkbox. Chat box. We will take our first question from peter galbraith. Peter mr. President , good to see you again, albeit virtually. I wanted to ask you about the negotiations process and whether it would result in significant constitutional change in afghanistan. Your lead negotiator has spoken at various times about a more parliamentary system and the other way in which one might think about it is a more decentralized or federal system in which the taliban might have the opportunity to govern part of the country. Do you see either of those things are both as being a possible outcome of the negotiations . More parliamentary system or federalized system . Pres. Ghani it is a great pleasure to see you virtually. I have with me my National Security adviser, the minister of education, the minister of Womens Affairs and the minister of state for peace. And our lead negotiator. Ae afghan constitution lays clear mechanism for amendment. Should we need to amend the constitution, there is a constitutional mechanism. The taliban has historically been centralized, not decentralized. So that needs to be taken into account. Whether the country is today ready for a parliamentary system without major parties that are implementing the law with regular elections, being cross national, having offices are questions that we need to face. The is up to the will of Afghan People, because any agreement that is negotiated by our negotiating team would need National Approval again. We need to understand that this an elite game. It must have a base of approval and because of this, we should avoid the scenario of columbia where the peace deal was projected, so socialization of what is possible and getting and communication from the people, women and men. Men, will be extremely important. We will take our next question from kim dozier. Kim thank you, mr. President , for doing this. I wanted to ask if you felt pressured in any way by the Trump Administration to release the last tranche of 400 prisoners that your Security Officials said include taliban members convicted of terrorist attacks and also if you feel that you can trust the white house to fairly negotiate on your behalf as well . Finally, the australian Prime Minister has asked for a former afghan soldier that killed three australian troops not to be released. What would you do about that . Pres. Ghani thank you for that important question. The request for relief came from the United States. Without that, we would not have convened the loya jirga. But the decision on the release made by the people of afghanistan. And it shows a very Strong National consensus for moving. Until this issue, there was a consensus on the desirability of not on the cost of it. We have now paid the major installment of cost and that eace will have consequences. The list is likely both a danger for us and to you because it has drug dealers and hardened criminals. That has been shared with all our allies and friends, but again, this is a step that we have considered a necessity and after the consensus of the loya jirga, i signed the relevant documents. We are focused on the request of the australians. My heart goes to the family. I have spoken to the family years before. It is a heinous crime and we will see how we can resolve it. James thank you. Next question, please. We will take our next from Barbara Slayton. Barbara im Barbara Slayton with the atlantic council. My question is about the nature of irans relationship with the taliban. Are there specific groups they have been assisting . How do you regard that assistance and the impact of the maximum Pressure Campaign on the u. S. Maximum pressure on iran, socalled, how has that affected afghanistans Economic Prosperity and potential . Pres. Ghani great to see you virtually and my best regards to the atlantic council. My affiliation was always a pleasure. When the regime for removal of sanctions was negotiated, it became an important issue for us, particularly in terms of a connection with india, because our strategy is based on diversification and connecting. We want to be a connector for every one of our neighbors. After sanctions, Financial Transactions, legal, Financial Transactions become important. We have had to adjust to that, but also, i would like to thank the administration for giving us exception. One of the few countries that enabled us to continue. In the time of corona when the market was extremely unsettled, india made a great gesture of 75,000 pounds of wheat. 45,000 of that right to the say iran can have a legal economic substantial relationship legal economic , relationship, the threat of sanction usually results in driving economic relations underground, substantially increasing the formal economy and the criminal economy. Haunts us ine that society. [indiscernible] in that regard, we have a very detailed list of issues that we are discussing with iran. State to state relationship. Equally, it has been in the recent months, very strong advocate of continuation of the Islamic Republic of afghanistan, a democratic afghanistan, and hoping to see a political solution. Its a complex society with multiple regional agendas and relationships and one set of relationships affects others. Our relationship with the United States is something that is a factor with other relationships. James next question, please. We will take our next question from nicholas shifrin. Nicholas thank you very much for doing this. Good to see you again even though you cant see me. I wanted to ask about the logistics for the next week and how you see this happening. One question on the prisoners release, the taliban are concerned that some of them will be attacked by Afghan Forces or u. S. Forces after their release. Will that happen . If talks do end up starting early next week, how do you see that beginning in terms of what your side will layout and how the taliban will respond to that . Thanks. Pres. Ghani thank you. I see your picture. A great fish. [crosstalk] ghani i spent a very good. Ime on the coast of maine on the coast of california and other places, so i am jealous. Theres no fear of attack. Taliban security forces, i am proud to say, take their civilian leadership extremely seriously and it has been a very disciplined force. We are not a militia. We do not attack those that we decide to release. We are multidisciplinary. They wanted to attack the loya jirga and our forces managed to contain it and of course, the success of Defense Forces at this event because Afghan Society is mobilized. Men and women, over a thousand of them surrender because of the community pressure. On the logistics, let me return to our lead negotiator. Now that i have made a major decision, it is up to the team. [indiscernible] the agenda that we pursued was the one that the loya jirga laid down. Cease fire discussions of lyrical framework for ending the war, taliban participation, dealing with the key issues will give you an illustration of the stakes that are involved. If taliban fighters are between 60,000 and 120,000, multiply that by seven family members. This is the immediate scale. We have to bring back 4 million refugees from pakistan alone. Part of the discussion really has to focus on being able the most significant set of issues are going to be going back a thousand years to when we were the center of islamic tolerance and giveandtake in our system. Subnational culture and almost all of our linguistic groups is extremely strong. We also have to provide employment, meaningful employment to these fighters, attend to them. I hope it gets from purely ideological issues to substantive issues that unite us. If it comes to that, then i think we will be able to make substantial headway and acknowledge each other as a necessity to have a stable and hopefully prosperous afghanistan. Equally, the two issues one, narcotics. There isnt a word about narcotics. Narcotics in the agreement between the United States and the taliban. Second, it is not just al qaeda but the ecosystem of terrorism and how that will be tackled jointly by us and our partners both in the region and nationally. We have a rich agenda, but the key approach our team would adopt is to arrive theres a list of key issues and the manner discussing them either sequentially, simultaneously, or a combination of the two. James i think the Vice President has raised his hand to make a comment. We will bring him in. You should be unmuted now. James looks like that connection is not happening. Pres. Ghani we will reserve the right. James ok, anytime he is available, just tell us, we will let him on. Right now, we will go to another question. Our next question. Thank you, president ghani, for this conversation. You have talked about tolerance and just a moment ago, you raised afghanistans history, as a historic Center Islamic experiencesd local of reconciliation. Can we dig down and ask your vision of how afghanistan successfully blends the secular developments that have gone on in your government and the traditional communities, at least a part of which are represented by the taliban . What is your vision of how those things could blend into the future . Pres. Ghani well, thank you. First of all, i would like to bring your attention, we have a program engaged with communities two thirds will be covered in the next two years. 50 of the elected councils are led by women . My submission to you is the image of the traditional afghan needs revision. My secularism is not a product orme studying at columbia my grandmother, who no man dared confront. The culture of our women in 18th century, all the leading houses engaged with trade or land or state were educated women. The mother of two of our founding fathers, both were poets. A survey recently carried by two respectable diplomats who are not in government has shown only 24 of the people in areas under the direct influence of the liban support the Society Needs to be listened to. It is a changed society. My vision, first of all, is to turn afghanistan again into a roundabout. A roundabout requires openness. If we want pipelines, transmission lines, fiberoptics, railways, highways to go through this land and enable us to immense natural resources, then we need a consensus. Second, the government is in the process of changing from being perceived as a master to being a servant. We need to have an inclusive understanding. This is one of the youngest societies on earth. Over 70 of our population is under 35. The image, unfortunately, people including me, the generation of 1960, is still very significant. We have to gracefully give way and bring this transition. And in terms of cultural values, its always, there have been all of these great religions, they have taken the same texts against each other. We need to find Common Ground. One of the most significant things our minister of education will be doing is bringing the minds of the schools and the minds of the universities together. This is a 99 islamic country. How do we gain back a tolerant sense of acceptance, particularly not living in inferiority complex with other civilizations . At the height of the other cultures, we were open, we need to go back to that. I think where i see the greatest hope is in our children. Our children are thinking long term. As the minister coming on board or still not . They still cannot connect, unfortunately. Please, ambassador. James ok, so we will take another question. We will take our next question from janet ketchum. Ketchum, please accept the unmute now prompt. Ok. It is an honor to hear you. Yes. I know afghanistan because of the former ambassador, ted elliott, who was my husbands cousin and his wife. Our foundation built a school for 3000 girls. It is a very successful school. My real question is, are we at where we are building another school now . Are we at risk or do we just cross our fingers . Thank you. Pres. Ghani it is wonderful to see you. I had the honor of meeting you. My deepest prayers for two of my closest friends, both of whom are mentors. We are building 6000 schools. One of the largest dams in afghanistan after 700 years. It is going to be in operation and three months. In three months. We have not stopped building. The day we give up our will to build, to educate girls, to build schools for them, that will be the day that we will lose afghanistan. You know, what is delightful about afghan girls, seven to 12. How many of them want to become president. They are thinking big. And i am delighted to have created that possibility. I would like to thank you very much for supporting the girls. One of our iconic figures 1000 years ago. Willnk these afghan girls [indiscernible] inspired by her. And also some of our great women. It comes from there. James ok, next question please. We will take our next question. Hello, mr. President. Thank you so much for taking my question. I would like to ask this is there any risk lines for the Afghan Government to enter the interafghan talks . The second question, is there any guarantee that the 400 taliban prisoners that will be released will not hurt any Afghan Security or American Forces . Thank you. Pres. Ghani well, thank you. Two great questions. A display ofa was unity. Have myighted to minister, colleagues, security sector, all other sectors. I am also very grateful to the doctor for having very ably managed and jirga. Ya there is no risk to the public. The values that bring us together, we have enormous amounts. There are no guarantees. Who can provide you with a guarantee . The issue has been raised. It has not been answered. As i indicated earlier, there are risks. All of these policies involve risk. As for the type of guarantee that would ensure that, its not possible. Jirga is extremely concerned about this issue. We will fight our best to make sure. Then again, this would be a key indicator of whether the taliban are truly embracing peace. Disciplinee internal to ensure that these people, that they promise to not engage in violence, are not going to engage in violence. It is up to the able Intelligence Services and security sectors of these countries. We have coordinated with them. They requested it. I am sure they have Risk Management plans, forbid any negative consequences. James very good. Next question please. We will take our next question. Please accept the unmute now button. Moving on, we will take the next question. Mr. President , jim from the world justice project. I am interested in domestic Justice System issues in afghanistan. What are the most pressing issues facing courts and the legal system in afghanistan, particularly relating to the independence of the judiciary . Thank you. Pres. Ghani it is great to see you. Again, very happy memories. Please, my best regards to our colleagues on the world justice project. You have done so much. The first issue is, i pride myself in not having once interfered in a judicial decision. Our Supreme Court now really has gained an immense stature. There is no backlog. Tens of thousands of cases were was hen the ambassador the attorney generals office, judgment,passed particularly in the area of corruption and abuse in a small in a very law significant number of cases. The chain of justice, the value chain of justice, that begins with police. Then the attorney generals office, moving to the courts. The chain of discovery goes back to enforcement. There are challenges in enforcement. The problem is between justice and peace. Took five months to look at each of the cases of the 4600 was because of our ,espect for justice, but peace we are facing a very similar situation at the United Nations. The United Nations has not a key underwrite justice. It has been a very significant fight. A lot of attorneys are going to think twice. A lot of judges are going to think twice. Reason we needed to go and have a moral basis for a decision that legally was not possible. The president of a kenaston of afghanistan does not have the right. People were condemned to death sentences. 117 people were in that category. People who committed homicide or kidnappings or cases of violence against women. If we get peace [indiscernible] marked as a day brought decision ened we can that weak rather than strengthened. Im afraid weve come to the end of our session here. My apologies to the members who are still waiting to ask questions, but weve run out of time. I want to thank you for being so gracious with your time and with your answers, i to say how good it has been for me to see you again. If you will permit me a second, i would like to send my best wishes to the many old friends gathered with you virtually. Im sure we all wish you the best of luck in the challenging days ahead. I would like to note also that the audio transcript todays meeting will be posted on the Councils Website for the public to make use of, so thanks again, mr. President , and good luck to you. Thank you. It is great to see you. Many of your friends send their regards. I would like to just conclude with saying the decision is totally a sovereign decision. Trump thatpresident purelyision is a internal vision internal position. Our society will always be grateful for the engagement now , but our two decades challenge now is together sufficient women to and capacity to deal with our future sufficient wisdom and capacity to do with our future. [indiscernible] its the quality of the relationship. Once again, we thank the citizens on the civilian side, the diplomats, and the soldiers. Thank you for this opportunity, and my great thanks to the council and all colleagues. Thank you, sir. Cspan 2 has top nonfiction authors. Weekend, authors talk about the black lives matter. S, formerord Deputy Attorney general john you john yoo looks at president ial powers in the constitution. Watch book tv this